3 Weekend Getaways From Atlanta

The Sanctuary: Piedmont ParkHonking horns give way to birdsong in Piedmont Park’s dense hardwood forest—made more accessible by a new set of footbridges and paved trails. Next year the leafy 200-acre park, set among Midtown’s high-rises, celebrates its 110th anniversary by opening 12 1/2 more acres, plus open-air classrooms for courses on sustainability. Save some time for a stroll through the adjoining Atlanta Botanical Garden, where asters, goldenrods, and other fall blooms are opening this month.

The Neighborhood: Old Fourth WardHistory meets hip in the O4W, the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. A short walk—but worlds away—from MLK’s National Historic Site is kitschy bar Sister Louisa’s Church, where Owen Wilson and Lady Gaga have been spotted playing Ping-Pong. At local favorite 4th & Swift ($$$), chef Jay Swift puts an upscale spin on comfort food (pheasant-confit mac-and-cheese; pork loin with bourbon peaches). Need a pick-me-up? Head to Dancing Goats Coffee Shop(pictured) in the new food-centric Ponce City Market.

The Day Trip: Greenville, S.C.This former mill town two hours northeast of Atlanta is a bastion of Southern charm. But it doesn’t lack for big-city appeal: the old master paintings at Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery are so impressive that Louvre curators have flown in to see them. Burn off the baked goat cheese from Passerelle($$) with a bike ride on the Swamp Rabbit Trail; rentals are available at Pedal Chic. Head north for nine miles until you reach Café at Williams Hardware ($$), where pumpkin pie and lemonade await.

Restaurant Pricing Key$Less than $25$$$25 to $75$$$$75 to $150$$$$More than $150